[Edaily Reporter An Yu-ri ] The success formula for “idle games” based on existing intellectual property (IP) continues to hold true this year. Most recently, the initial success of “Cookie Run: Crumble,” an idle role-playing game (RPG) launched by Devsisters corporation(194480)using the “Cookie Run” IP, has been particularly notable.

According to the Devsisters corporation on the 1st, “Cookie Run: Crumble” surpassed 20 billion won in cumulative revenue in less than a month since its global launch on the 30th of last month. This milestone was achieved in less than a month after its global release on July 30. The number of users has also exceeded 2.5 million.

Cookie Run: Crumble is a mobile idle RPG based on the Cookie Run IP. It combines the idle genre—where characters grow automatically without requiring constant player input—with the casual atmosphere unique to Cookie Run.

The Devsisters corporation’s newly adopted IP utilization strategy is cited as a key factor behind its initial success. Compared to previous Cookie Run series titles, the company focused on reducing development scale and duration to enable a rapid market entry.

During development, the team aimed to appeal to both existing Cookie Run fans and idle game players. By utilizing familiar characters and a familiar universe, they lowered the barrier to entry for existing fans, while targeting the demands of idle game players with a simple gameplay structure centered on auto-battle and character progression.

The Devsisters corporation representative emphasized, “Cookie Run: Crumble was produced by a small team—compared to our typical development staff—in less than two years; we prioritized fast and efficient development above all else.”

Idle games continue to enjoy successive successes in the market. Titles such as Netmarble Corporation’s “Seven Knights: Raise” and “Stone Age: Raise,” as well as Nexon’s “Maple: Raise” and Wemade Max’s “Windrunner: Raise,” have achieved commercial success by leveraging existing IPs.

Idle games center on a repetitive progression structure that minimizes user input. Compared to massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) or high-spec action games, they allow for simpler content and system designs and make it easier to utilize characters and graphic assets from existing IPs.

A series of idle game releases is expected in the second half of this year. Nexon is preparing to launch “Dungeon & Fighter Raising,” based on the “Dungeon & Fighter” IP, before the end of the year. The company plans to apply the success formula of the MapleStory IP—which produced hits like “Maple Raising”—across the entire “Dungeon & Fighter” IP.

Mgame Corp.(058630)Mgame is also set to launch “Ghost Soul Raising,” which it is developing in-house, by the end of the year. As of the 19th of last month, pre-registrations for “Ghost Soul Raising” had surpassed 500,000. Lee Jae-chang, Director at Mgame Corp. and the project lead for “Ghost Soul Raising,” stated, “‘Ghost Soul Raising’ is a new title that inherits the worldview, classes, and combat system of the original ‘Ghost Soul’ while being redesigned to suit the idle RPG genre,” adding, “We ask for your continued interest and participation in pre-registration leading up to the official launch.”